Decades may have passed since Three’s Company graced our screens, but its laughter still echoes in our hearts.
With unforgettable characters and side-splitting misunderstandings, this classic sitcom revolutionized the genre. Now, Joyce DeWitt reveals what really made the show a timeless treasure…
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From the hilarious antics of three single roommates to the unforgettable performances of John Ritter and Suzanne Somers, Three’s Company remains a beloved staple of American television. It’s hard to believe it’s been 40 years since the series finale aired on ABC, yet its charm and humor still resonate today.
To illustrate how long ago Three’s Company became a hit, I just watched the intro. Seeing the shots from Santa Monica Pier during the show’s prime reminds me of how much has changed since they filmed there.
Sadly, neither John Ritter nor Suzanne Somers are with us anymore; both were taken from us far too soon. But keeping the spirit of Three’s Company alive is Joyce DeWitt, 75, who shares her vibrant stories and cherished memories from the beloved show.
”The most dear, precious, tender – and utterly unexpected – experiences that have come from working in ‘Three’s Company’ are the many, many adults who have told me that ‘Three’s Company’ was a safe haven they could count on during their teen years – for some, the only safe haven,” Joyce DeWitt told US Weekly.
Joyce DeWitt circa 1978. (Photo by Images Press/IMAGES/Getty Images)
Starring as Janet Wood alongside John Ritter and Suzanne Somers, DeWitt became a television icon and she was such a day brightener for millions.
She appeared in 171 episodes of the show between 1976 and 1984.
“It was such a gift. I mean, it was iconic. But who would have thought it?” Joyce DeWitt told The Spec. “All we were trying to do was make people laugh. When I think about it, the show was really an attempt to do a contemporary version of a 16th-century farce. It was about silliness running wild. I mean, we were talking about serious issues at times, but that was always somewhere underneath.”
“John Ritter used to say, ‘We don’t want people to just laugh but to fall over their couch laughing,’” she added. “The real issue was always the depth of friendship and the love those characters had for each other. That’s what drew people to them.”
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After Three’s Company ended, DeWitt stepped away from the spotlight for over a decade before making her comeback to acting.
Yet, no matter what she has accomplished or plans to do in the future, the vast majority will always connect her with that iconic show. And there’s a very simple reason for that, according to DeWitt.
“It was a ‘time out’ from the oppressive, challenging, difficult circumstances they were navigating in their young lives,” DeWitt says and adds:
“And, oh by the way, they say the characters also did stupid, crazy stuff that made them laugh. But it was the love, trust and support of the characters, one to the other, that made them lifelong fans.”
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When you look at unedited photos from the Three’s Company set, the camaraderie among the cast shines through, especially in the images of Joyce DeWitt and Suzanne Somers, who played the beloved Chrissy Snow.
Both actresses delivered iconic performances, portraying young women navigating a male-dominated industry. They contributed just as much to the show’s success as John Ritter, and in those early days, their smiles in photos tell a story of friendship and collaboration.
Yet, beneath the laughter, tensions simmered. While Somers was celebrated for her role as “the dumbest blonde in America,” her fight for equal pay created rifts that would grow over time. As she demanded a 500% salary increase — from $30,000 to $150,000 — her relationship with DeWitt became strained. The set, once filled with joy, was now fraught with conflict.
Heartbreak for King Charles
Captain Ian Farquhar, a close friend of the king, regrettably passed away at the age of 78.
Ian has been King Charles’s and Queen Camilla’s dear friend for a long time. He further enhanced his already illustrious name by acting as the Queen Mother’s rider.
Ian was a renowned hunter and a superb horseman who served with pride in the Queen’s Own Hussars.
The King, who is already coping with his own cancer diagnosis, is devastated by this loss. Lord Jacob Rothschild, who was 87 years old, passed away just last week.
When Prince William was on leave in 2000, he dated Rose Farquhar, Ian’s daughter. In the picturesque Gloucestershire countryside, the young couple relished romantic picnics.
Ian leased a farmhouse on the Gloucestershire estate of King’s Highgrove for a considerable amount of time.
Ian had been quite sick, according to Queen Camilla’s first husband, Stephen Parker Bowles, who made this revelation to the Daily Mail.
Andy revealed that Ian died at Highgrove early on Wednesday morning.
He spoke warmly about Ian, recalling that he was “always a lot of fun, but as wild as a hawk when he was young.”
Furthermore, Andy said that Ian would go down in history as “one of the great Master of Hounds.”
Ian was the esteemed Master of the Beaufort Hunt for 34 years.
On Instagram, the Beaufort Hunt honored their former mentor.
“Sending our love and condolences to the family and friends of our own Captain Ian Farquhar breaks our hearts,” they stated. He gave us 34 years of excellent leadership before passing away quietly this week.
“Many in the hunting community held him in high regard as ‘Captain.’” He was always welcoming, helpful, and prepared to offer anyone who asked for it excellent, progressive advise.
“Anyone who had the good fortune to spend time with Ian and hear about his extraordinary and adventurous life in the army and as a hunter will cherish those memories forever. Ian had a sharp sense of humor.”
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